Regional Facts and Figures

This page brings together information on health and factors affecting health in Yorkshire and the Humber in one easily accessible place. The aim is to provide a dynamic supplement to the Regional Director of Public Health's Annual Report. YHPHO's intention is to update the pages as relevant new information becomes available.

Data is presented by theme, in a series of downloadable pdf charts. For each theme there is also a link to other data and resources available on the YHPHO website.

Key facts in Yorkshire and The Humber:

• There are 1,800 more deaths, under the age of 75, each year compared to the national average.
• On average people die at a younger age here than elsewhere in the country.
• A baby boy born in Bradford is almost 3 times more likely to die before their first birthday than one born in Hambleton.
• Half the population of Yorkshire and The Humber are smokers or ex-smokers
• 609,000 have reported to their doctor that they smoke.
• 10,000 people die from smoking related diseases each year.
• 12,500 expectant mothers smoke through pregnancy.
• 25% of men and 24% of women were obese in 2003.
• There are 3,200 extra deaths each year in winter compared with the summer.
• The region has the second highest number of vulnerable people in England who are judged to be in “fuel poverty” by the Government.
• Over 22,000 people sustain a serious accidental injury each year.
• Sexually transmitted infections are rising. In 2004 there were 2,245 cases of gonorrhoea in the region, well above the national average.
• Future health patterns are strongly linked to GCSE results

Alcohol

Excessive drinking is a major cause of disease and injury, with several million drinking excessively to the extent where they are putting their health at risk. It is estimated that 1 in 13 people in the UK are alcoholics. The charts here cover weekly levels alcohol consumption as well as binge drinking, and data on months of life loss and liver damage due to alcohol.

Life Expectancy and Mortality

Addressing some of the major causes of ill health in the region remains a key priority to prevent premature illness and death. Inequalities in health do exist across the region and losing the gap between these inequalities is a key priority. Presented here are charts relating to life expectancy at birth as well as disability free life expectancy, and mortality rates for the most common causes of death. Also provided is inequality data in the form of the all cause all age mortality rates by deprivation quintile.

Sexual Health

Sexual health is identified as one of the key national priorities for action in the White Paper Choosing Health. The charts presented here cover information on, terminations, patients attending Genito-Urinary Medicine clinics and sexually transmitted disease rates including information on HIV-infected individuals seen for care.

Mental Health, and Drugs Misuse

It has been estimated that at some point in their lives one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem. If left undiagnosed mental health problems can have a serious effect on the individual and those around them. The charts presented here include information on suicide mortalities and hospital admittance for specific mental health problems.

Drug misuse is when drug taking harms health or functioning and may require a further range of interventions that may include treatment. Included here are data on the prevalence of drug use in the region, injection rates and drug treatment rates.

Child Health

YHPHO is the lead PHO for Children and Young People. Child health looks at the health of a population group, and therefore considers all aspects of public health in relation to this group. Themes within this subject may therefore include: breastfeeding rates and birthweights, childhood accidental injury, obesity levels and alcohol consumption, teenage pregnancy and STDs, childhood illness and immunisation, child poverty, and GCSE pass rates.

General Health

This section collects other information on relevant areas such as smoking, fuel poverty and excess winter deaths, influenza-immunisation, and traffic accidents.